Colman Noctor: Verbal abuse seriously damages children 

Shouting at children puts them at greater long-term risk of engaging in self-harm, drug use and being jailed

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A new review of international studies by a University College London (UCL) team has found that ongoing verbal abuse can be deeply harmful to children, placing them at greater risk of engaging in self-harm, drug use and being jailed. The review of more than 13,000 studies suggests that the number of children who encounter verbal abuse is as high as 40%, considerably more than the estimated percentage of children who experience physical or sexual abuse.

Before we explore these findings, it is critical to understand what verbal abuse means.